Method and apparatus for separating solids from liquids



Jan. 22, 1935. F. STINDT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLIDS FROMLIQUIDS Filed May 14, 1932 E Q 7 3 \b 2 @Q J .F

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Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPA-RATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS Frederick Stin'dt, Grantwood, N. Applicationay 14, 1932, Serial No. 611,251

2 Claims.

Another object of the invention is'toprovidev aplurality of centrifugesarranged so that each discharges into the other in order that a methodof continuously separating liquids from solids may be accomplished.

These and many other objects, as willappear from the followingdisclosure are secured .by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction,arrangement, relative location of parts, steps and series of steps, aswill appearin. detail from the following description.

Referring to the drawing, the single figure is a view of the apparatusof this invention shown partly in elevation and partly in vertical crosssection. v v

This machine will be described in connection However-the apparatus andmethod are in no sense limited to that industry, but are useful in anyindustry or for any use where it is desired to separate solids fromliquids which are in mixture. As far as I am aware it has been possibleto provide a continuous method and apparatus for carrying it out for theseparation of solids from liquids, and particularly sugar from itsmolasses content. In accordance with present practice a singlecentrifuge is employed the basket of which is charged with wet sugarwhile rotating at the proper speed until the sugar is thoroughly dry. Inaccordance with this practice the layer of sugar formed on the innerwall of the basket as it revolves is of the order of several inchesthick, so that it is necessary to subject the sugar to a relatively longperiod of action in the centrifuge in order to thoroughly dry all of it.

When all of the moisture is extracted from the sugar the centrifuge mustbe stopped and the dried sugar removed from it. Such centrifuges usuallyemploy an open bottom basket through which the sugar is discharged whenthe machine is stopped. Sometimes it is necessary to employ a mechanicalunloader to remove the sugar from with the sugar industry as. will beapparent later.

the basket. Such procedure only permits of inter mittent operation ofthe centrifuge, resulting in the necessity for constant attendance of anoperator who is only able to handle two or three machines. This meansthat the machines are noti ,5, operated at maximum efiiciency and inaddition labor costs are increased. I It has been'proposed to employ acentrifuge having a plurality ofbaskets mounted on the same shaft anddriven'simultaneously. In this. l0.-= proposed machine the baskets arepartially tele-' scoped'and are of gradually increasingdiameter so thatthe mixture ispoured into the upper-and smallest basket. and graduallytravels into the succeeding lower baskets which are of increas 15, ingdiameter. The result is that the mixture is subjected to graduallyincreasing Y centrifuge forces which is so undesirable that the machinenever attainedany commercial use. I I

With the present invention all of thesediffi- 20 culties are eliminatedand in addition the advantage of a continuous, process is attained.Referring now to the drawing, there is shown at 1 a suitable support towhich are secured at the proper points the hollow standards, 2, 3 and4., Rigidly secured to the upper endsof the standards 2, 3 and 4 are theouter casings 5,

V 6 and '7 respectively, having the liquid discharge spouts 5, 6 and '7respectively. .Journaledwit-hin "the standards" 2, 3 and 4 are thevertical rotatable shafts 8, 9 and 10 respectively. Se cured to thelower ends of the shafts are the bevel gears 11, 12 and 13, which meshwith cooperating bevel-gears 14, 15 and 16 respectively. The gears 14,15 and 16 are, for purposes of illustration, shown mounted upon a singleoperating shaft 17 which may be driven from any suitable power source.Mounted on the shafts 8, 9 and 10 are the perforated baskets 18, 19 and20 respectively. These baskets are secured to those shafts for rotationtherewith. As shown the baskets are mounted within the casings and arenot provided as in the case of the ordinary centrifuge, with inwardlyprojecting lips. In other words the interior walls of the baskets aresmooth. Surrounding the easings 5, 6 and '7 are the outer receptacles21, 22 and 23 respectively, having the solid discharge spouts 21, 22'and 23. The outer containers 21, 22 and 23 project vertically above thetops of the baskets and are provided with openings as indicated in thedrawing. The containers 22 and 23 are provided with removable covers 24and 25 respectively. If desired, of course, the container 21 maylikewise be provided with a cover, but it is desirably left open inorder that the interior of the basket may be observed.

At 26 is a delivery spout or nozzle through which the mixture to becentrifuged is delivered to the first basket 18. In the operation of themachine power is applied to shaft 17 with the result that the verticalshafts 8, 9 and 10 are simultaneously driven, causing rotation therewithofthe baskets 18, 19 and 20. In order to attain a practical structure bymeans of which a continuous method may be effected it is desirable thatthe mixture of solid and liquid be subjected to substantially the samecentrifuge action throughout its treatment. 'Thismay obviously beattained either by making the baskets of the same diameter andsimultaneously revolving all of them at the same and proper .speed.

The same results of course can be secured, as

er amount of material will be continuously de-' livered to the basket.This material under the centrifuge force set up assumes a position onthe inner wall of the basket to form a thin layer.

Under centrifugal action the material creeps over the upper edge of thebasket and is-thrown into the outer container 21. The liquids passthrough the perforations of basket 18 and are collected in the casing 5and discharged through the spout 5 to a suitable receptacle. The solidsmove down the inclined bottom wall of the container 21 and pass throughspout 21 intothe second basket 19, where they again form a layer on theinner wall thereof, so that further liquids may be separated therefrom.This liquid is collected in casing'6 and discharged through the spout 6.The solids again creep over the upper edge of the basket, collect incontainer 22 and discharge therefrom through spout 22 into the basket 20where the action is again repeated. The remaining liquids are dischargedfrom casing 7 through the spout 7' and the com-,

pletely dried solids are collected in container 23 and dischargedthrough spout 23.

As will be apparent with this arrangement the materials may be fed intothe first basket continuously from the spout 26 and the finished productcontinuously removed from the machine through the spout 23. The solidsare in continuous motion through the machine and at spaced points in thepath of travel are successively subjected to centrifugal action of auniform and proper amount. It is not necessary to stop the machine atintervals to discharge the finished product from it so that it may berun continuously and a number of these machines can be handled by oneattendant who need only occasionally assure himself that the machinesare operating properly and are being fed the right quantity of material.

From the above description it will be apparent that this inventionresides in certain principles of construction and operation which may beeffected in other Ways by those skilled in the art without departuretherefrom. I do not therefore desire to be strictly limited to thisdisclosure. as given for purposes of illustration, but rather to thescope of the appended claims.

-What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus as described comprising a support, a plurality of shaftsjournaled on said support, a centrifuge basket secured to each shaft,all of said baskets being of the same size,

a casing surrounding each basket, each of said baskets being open at thetop, an outer casing:

enclosing the open end of each basket and discharging into the nextbasket, and means for simultaneously rotating said baskets at the samespeed.

2. An apparatus as described comprising a support, a plurality ofstandards mounted on said support in spaced relation, a'vertical shaftjournaled in each of said standards, means for simultaneously revolvingallof said shafts, a centrifuge basket secured to each shaft forrotation therewith, all of said baskets being of substantially the samediameter, a liquid collecting casing surrounding each basket, and asolid collecting casing surrounding each basket and having -means fordischarging the solids collected therein to another basket in series.

FREDERICK STINDT.

